Beautiful Kids

Some of the kids of Mission Arlington!  These kids were beautiful!  It was amazing to see them exhibit the joy of the Lord even in their impoverished living situations.  Most of these kids would be home alone if it weren’t for this program.  The older siblings are Mama during the day (and when I say “older” that can mean 9!!)

A brother and sister!  He doesn’t speak any English at all, but he was able to communicate with the most beautiful smile and willingness to join in no matter what and play, play, play!!

This little sweety is 9 years old and more mature than I am in many ways bless her heart!  She is Mama, and is quite concerned about her 3 younger brothers.  Daddy is in jail and Mom is not around much, but she is on fire for the Lord and knows that He is the source of her strength to do what she has to do!  Very impressive young lady!

I mean, look at that face!!

This boy cracked me up!!!  He has the best personality and makes everyone laugh!  Loved hanging out with him!

Couldn’t you just eat them up!

These boys the woman in charge is most concerned with.  They are here during the day, which is great, but are hanging with some bad influences and there are possible gang issues.  So sad, they are so young, and really sweet when they will talk.  We will continue to pray for them (for all of them!)

This little dog came onto the playground and the kids were all over him like white on rice!  He had the best temperment for it!  He would let them chase him, then turn to chase them.  It was great to see that all the kids were kind to the animal and had great love in their hearts!

Precious!  She is a future photographer.  Most of these shots in fact she took.  She got so excited to see a camera and immediately took it and ran with it (literally  LOL).  I couldn’t wait to see the shots that were on there from this day!

The younger kids worked very hard on this “bird nest” art.  They all just joined in and played wonderfully together to create!  Clara spent at least an hour here on this and she’s my non crafty child!

Working on the nest.

There is another Mama!  Always a baby on her hip.  She just turned 14 and is mature way beyond her years!  Another one who really impressed me.  I got to talk to her a lot, and she certainly touched my soul!

One, or all of us, missionaries was willing to scoop this little one up and take him home.  His Mom said don’t let his eyes fool you—he can be a stinker  :)

This was the boy who had us draw all kinds of things.  He would get so excited when he would ask and we would deliver.  It all started with me drawing him a picture of a cross and he wanted the dog from outside at the base of the cross.  I did that and he was amazed, and then we had to get a new sheet of paper and draw, draw, draw!!

These kids are amazing and it was a true blessing to get to play with them for two whole days.  My heart aches for them, but rejoices with them over the Mission Arlington program they have available to them!!  What a huge difference that is in their lives I have no doubt!  Mission Arlington works to keep the complex clean, they distribute food here when they have it (we got to distribute 1000 lbs of frozen peaches our first day---I’m sure I will talk about that in a different post), the kids get breakfast and lunch (and often that is all they get to eat for the day), love, and they get to hear the good news—that they absolutely have value and that God loves them very much!!

Lord please watch over each and every one of these precious children!  Bless them!  Give them a greater hunger for the things of You—Your Word, and a desire to be with other like minded kids and AWAY from those influences that are in place to pull them astray!  Give them strength to endure their hardships!  Give them a revelation of Jer. 29:11-14 and of Rom 8:28---You have a plan and purpose for each one of them and You promise to use their difficulties for their good and for the good of the Kingdom like only You can do!!  Keep them safe, keep their families safe!  Thank you for Mission Arlington and their heart and willingness to meet their needs—continue to provide financially and with workers for this great ministry to continue to grow and prosper!  I thank You for the opportunity You provided for Lucy, Clara, and myself to see your hands and feet in motion!  May we be ever more willing to step outside our comfort zones and see You in a greater way!  We ask all this in Jesus’ name!!